WAYNE, Neb. – The University of Sioux Falls Volleyball team wrapped up a challenging week of NSIC competition Saturday afternoon, falling in straight sets to No. 2 Wayne State inside Rice Auditorium.
The Cougars entered Saturday coming off a five-set battle with No. 11 Southwest Minnesota State on Thursday, but the second-ranked Wildcats proved difficult to slow on their home floor. Wayne State took the match 25-13, 25-19 and 25-17 as Sioux Falls moved to 4-10 overall and 0-6 in NSIC play.
The Basics
Final: No. 2 Wayne State 3, Sioux Falls 0
Set Scores: 13-25, 19-25, 17-25
Records: Sioux Falls 4-10 (0-6 NSIC) | Wayne State 14-1 (6-0 NSIC)
Location: Rice Auditorium | Wayne, Neb.
How It Happened
Wayne State established control early in the opening set, turning a 5-2 advantage into a 12-2 lead behind a seven-point run. Sioux Falls began to settle in behind kills from Kyleigh Tangen, Aubrey Gates and Haley Wolfe, but the early deficit proved too much to overcome. USF put together a late three-point run that included a block from Ella Walker and Hollie Peterson, but the Wildcats closed the frame with four straight points to take the opener, 25-13.
The Cougars responded with a much stronger second set. After trailing 4-1, USF used a Wayne State attack error, a Walker-Haus block and a Faith Van Eck service ace to pull even at 4-4. Walker later put Sioux Falls in front 7-6 with a kill as the teams traded points through the early stages of the frame.
Wayne State eventually created separation with a four-point run to take a 14-9 advantage, but the Cougars continued to battle. Back-to-back blocks helped USF cut the deficit to 18-16, and kills from Wolfe and Gates later brought the Cougars within four at 22-18. The Wildcats held off the push, however, to take the set 25-19 and a 2-0 match lead.
Sioux Falls remained within striking distance early in the third. Gates pulled USF within two at 7-5 before Wayne State used a 4-0 run to extend its lead to 11-6. The Wildcats later stretched the advantage to 21-12, but the Cougars continued to fight.
Tangen sparked a late USF run from the service line, recording back-to-back aces before Walker followed with a solo block to make it 21-16. Wayne State responded by taking four of the final five points to close the set, 25-17, and secure the match.
Key Cougars
Kyleigh Tangen led the Sioux Falls offense with eight kills while hitting .227. Tangen also added eight digs and accounted for two of USF's three service aces.
Haley Wolfe followed with six kills and three blocks, while Ella Walker and Aubrey Gates each finished with five kills. Walker led the Cougars at the net with five total blocks, including a solo stop, while Abby Haus added four blocks.
Maci Lerseth anchored the Cougar back row with a match-high 19 digs. Hollie Peterson directed the offense with 23 assists while adding seven digs and three blocks.
By the Numbers
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Sioux Falls finished with 28 kills, 46 digs and nine total blocks.
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The Cougars' strongest offensive set came in the third, when they hit .139 with 10 kills.
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USF's defense held a 9-10 margin in blocks against the second-ranked Wildcats.
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Walker led the Cougars with five blocks, while Haus added four and Wolfe and Peterson each finished with three.
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Tangen led USF with eight kills and two service aces.
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Lerseth's 19 digs were a match high.
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Wayne State finished with 44 kills and hit .296 for the match.
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Sioux Falls limited the Wildcats to a .244 hitting percentage in the second set, their lowest mark of the afternoon.
Up Next
USF will return home to host Augustana on September 29 at 6pm in the Stewart Center.
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